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Deployed Airmen better selves, careers with CCAF accomplishment

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Tania Bryan
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Twenty-three servicemembers were awarded degrees from the Community College of the Air Force in a ceremony at the Blatchford-Preston Complex theater April 21.

The ceremony was hosted by the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing commander, Brig. Gen. Charlie Lyon, and highlighted with a commencement address given by Chief Master Sgt. David Greene, 379th Expeditionary Operations Group chief enlisted manager, who graduated with his CCAF degree in 2000.

"I think this is a perfect example of the opportunities we get to send home better Airmen, make the installation a better place, and accomplish the mission," General Lyon said. "Master Sgt. Milton Littlejohn began the rotation with the opening of the new Education and Learning Resource Center, and now he's rounded out his tour by seeing the first-ever CCAF graduation from here."

The wing here has made great strides to offer educational opportunities across the spectrum ... from WAPS testing to CCAF.

"Our aim is to provide an environment to Airmen just like bases throughout the world," the general said. "This wing is proud of our ability to provide education and promotion opportunities so Airmen don't have to put their career goals and enhancements on hold when they are deployed to Southwest Asia."

Resources for Airmen deployed here include two colleges, said Sergeant Littlejohn, chief of education here. The University of Maryland University College and Central Texas College both offer general education courses that will satisfy CCAF degree requirements.

"The education office also offers CLEP and Dante's testing, which have used to complete their degrees," said Sergeant Littlejohn, the chief of faculty and accreditation at the CCAF at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.

He encouraged Airmen of all ranks to make the CCAF degree a priority, because "the CCAF degree is a now requirement to obtain ranks of senior master sergeant and chief master sergeant."

As for Airmen and junior noncommissioned officers, it "will help in career progression by giving them more knowledge in [various] fields" which will help them be better-rounded, he said.

"Getting your CCAF - or any education - is important whether you have two stripes or seven," General Lyon said. "I'm proud to see senior NCOs getting their CCAF degrees tonight because it shows we're never too old to learn. Education is part of a life-long journey. The day we stop learning is the day we start getting stagnant and can make fewer contributions to the Air Force, our families, society."

For those who are interested in going even further and obtaining a bachelor's degree, "the new ABC (associate to bachelor's) program allows Airmen to take up to 60 semester hours from their CCAF degree and roll them over into a bachelor's degree program," Sergeant Littlejohn said.

Also noteworthy, Senior Airman John Shiraef, IV, and Airman 1st Class Lonnie Ginn received $100 scholarships from the Chiefs' Group. The criteria for the award included a narrative statement describing the manner in which the scholarship would enhance the Airmen's professional development as a member of the Air Force and as American citizens.

Airman Lonnie Ginn was awarded a $50 scholarship from the Top 4.

The 379th AEW and associate unit Spring 2008 graduates were:

Master Sgt. Bubba Beason, ** Master Sgt. Ruel Gadbury, * Master Sgt. John Facemire, Airman 1st Class Joshua Fields, Senior Airman Riki Foos, Airman 1st Class Lonnie Ginn, Staff Sgt. Thomas Gough, Master Sgt. Robert Haines, Staff Sgt. Lacy Hogan, Staff Sgt. Clyde Hunt, Airman 1st Class Stacy Jeffrey, Senior Airman Michael Kiser, Staff Sgt. Ryan Laube, Master Sgt. Ray Martinez, *Master Sgt. Thomas McGowan, Senior Airman Nicole Orr, Tech. Sgt. Isael Perez, Airman 1st Class Adrin Russell, Staff Sgt. Edward Sawyer, Senior Airman John Shiraef, Senior Airman Daniel Shirah, Senior Airman Cory Williams, and *Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Witherly.

* Denotes awarding of two degrees ** Denotes awarding of three degrees